The Fat Omega’s Vengeance : Between Two Alphas

Aria's POV 14

We continued browsing through the store after Selene disappeared into the back with the red dress.

Natalie was still muttering angrily under her breath as she dragged her fingers along a row of silk skirts. "I can't believe her, the nerve of that girl."

"It's just a dress, Nat," I whispered, trying to keep my voice calm as we walked.

"It was a beautiful dress!" she argued.

I smiled lightly, adjusting the strap of my small bag on my shoulder. "It wasn't the only beautiful dress in the world."

Natalie stopped in her tracks and folded her arms, glaring at me. "You're being far too nice about this."

"No," I replied, giving her a soft smile. "I'm choosing peace."

"Well, that woman doesn't deserve peace," she huffed, though the corner of her mouth twitched.

I laughed softly and kept walking between the glittering clothing displays. A few moments later, my eyes landed on another gown tucked away in a lit glass display, and it immediately stole all my attention.

The fabric was a rich sapphire blue that shimmered softly whenever the overhead light touched it. Tiny silver beads had been carefully sewn into the sheer sleeves and along the scoop neckline, making it look like a quiet night sky filled with bright stars. The skirt flowed down gracefully, and the tight, fitted waist would flatter almost anyone who put it on.

It was elegant. It was breathtakingly beautiful and it looked expensive enough to make my poor empty wallet cry. I carefully lifted the hanger from the rack to admire it.

Natalie gasped beside me, clutching her chest. "Oh, Aria yes….this is the one."

I nodded, feeling a quiet flutter in my stomach. "I think so too."

Before I could even inspect the delicate stitching properly, another manicured hand reached forward from behind me and snatched the wooden hanger right out of my fingers.

I didn't even need to look up to know who it was.

Natalie groaned out loud, slapping a hand over her forehead. "You've got to be kidding me."

Miss anger issues stood there holding the blue dress against her waist, smiling at us sweetly.

"I'll be taking this one too, " she announced, her cold eyes flashing with triumph.

Natalie stepped forward immediately, her face flushing red. "Actually, she found it first.”

"Natalie, wait—" I started.

"No, Aria!" Natalie snapped, stepping up beside me. "This is completely ridiculous."

I reached out and gently grabbed her wrist, holding her back. "It's fine."

"No, it's not fine!"

I leaned in closer to her ear and lowered my voice so Selene couldn't hear us over the quiet store music. "Trust me."

Natalie froze, looking at me sideways. Her angry expression slowly shifted into confusion. "You have a plan?"

A slow, mischievous smile crept onto my face. "I have a plan."

Natalie instantly relaxed her shoulders, stepping back into place. Whenever I smiled like that, someone was about to get taught a lesson.

We pretended to go back to browsing normally, wandering down the aisles while Selene trailed behind us at a distance, terribly attempting to act like she wasn't following our every move.

It was almost funny. Every time I touched a piece of fabric, she suddenly became deeply interested in that exact section. Every time I whispered a fake compliment about a shirt or a pair of shoes, she somehow ended up picking it up and placing it in her shopping arms.

It became so painfully obvious that even Natalie couldn't hide her snicker.

"She's literally copying everything you do," Natalie whispered behind a rack of coats.

"I know," I murmured back.

"Why is she doing that?"

I glanced over my shoulder for a split second. The moment my eyes met Selene's, she jerked her head away and pretended to look intently at a hat on a mannequin.

Interesting, I thought to myself…very interesting.

A few moments later, my eyes landed on a truly breathtaking gown hanging all the way near the back wall.

The dress was a deep, rich amethyst purple. The fabric looked almost magical beneath the glowing chandeliers, shifting seamlessly between shades of dark violet and bright silver whenever it caught the air. Delicate gold embroidery ran across the top like flowering vines, while tiny crystals sparkled all down the heavy skirt.

It was absolutely stunning and it was far prettier than any of the dresses we had looked at all morning.

The very second I saw it, I knew in my gut it was the exact dress Damian wanted.

But I wasn't stupid enough to reach for it right away.

Instead, I turned around and grabbed the single ugliest dress I could find on the clearance rack. The thing looked like someone had attacked it with cheap lace and completely lost their mind halfway through sewing it. It was a sickly mustard yellow color, covered in oversized, floppy ruffles, with a weird neckline that made no sense at all.

I held it up in front of me.

Natalie stared at the yellow disaster and then she stared at me. Then she looked back at the ruffles, her mouth hanging wide open in pure horror. I subtly reached down and kicked her shoe with my toe.

Understanding instantly flashed across her face, and her eyes lit up with wicked excitement.

"Oh my goddess!" Natalie exclaimed dramatically, her voice echoing down the aisle.

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. "This is it, Nat."

"Absolutely!" Natalie practically shouted, grabbing the ugly yellow sleeve and holding it up to the light. "I have never seen anything more beautiful in my entire life!"

I nodded enthusiastically, putting a hand over my heart. "It's perfect."

"Look at the color…Look at the design!"

"The pure elegance!" I added.

"We definitely have to buy this one right now!" Natalie agreed loudly.

We continued praising the terrible dress as if it had been personally crafted by the moon goddess herself. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a sudden blur of movement approaching us fast from behind the coat racks.

Three. Two. One.

"There it is," I whispered.

Miss anger issues suddenly stood beside us, practically snatching the ugly yellow dress right out of Natalie's hands with a triumphant huff.

"I'll be taking this," Selene declared, holding the ruffly yellow mess tight against her silk shirt like a prize.

Natalie immediately lowered her head toward her chest, her shoulders shaking as she tried to hide her massive grin. I had to bite the inside of my lip so hard I almost tasted blood just to keep a straight face.

"Are you sure?" I asked politely, looking up at her with wide, innocent eyes.

Selene lifted her chin high in the air, looking down her nose at me. "Of course I'm sure, I'm doing this store a favor by not letting it's designs fall in the hands of someone like you.”

I glanced at the hideous dress one last time, taking a slow step back and casually shrugging my shoulders. "Well, if that's what you really want."

Then, without missing a single beat, I turned on my heel and smoothly picked up the gorgeous amethyst gown from the display behind me…the actual dress I had wanted the whole time.

The sweet smile on my face widened as I held it up to my chest. "Enjoy your dress, Miss anger issues,” I said to her face.

Her smug confidence vanished in a fraction of a second. "Wait... what? What just happened?”